Knoxville columnists give differing takes on first debate

Either by accident or design, the Knoxville News Sentinel has two different takes on the first televised debate between Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Jackson beer distributor Mike McWherter.

Columnist Greg Johnson thinks Haslam was the big winner, especially with his barbed question on the state’s fiscal situation. Extending a boxing analogy, which is practically impossible not to do when writing about a debate, Johnson says McWherter will need a “lucky haymaker” to beat Haslam.

On the other side, columnist Pam Strickland says she’s going with McWherter, despite being bored by the debate. Both men may be multimillionaires and the sons of politically powerful fathers, but McWherter issued a stronger statement opposing mountaintop removal and supports expanding pre-Kindergarten, she says.

Same event. Two views. If neither convinces you, the candidates will have two more chances in October.